June 30, 2016

For a couple months, I had been wanting to plan a road trip to the Oregon Coast. Nicole and I kept talking about going and how awesome it would be if we went. We committed; planned a route, and booked accommodations in five hours that afternoon. Two days later we headed out for the coast; started on the road at 5 in the morning to make our long trek to Portland.

One thing I loved about the vibe of Nicole and I on our trip, was that except for the few views we shared through Snapchat, we focused mostly on making the photos on the go, and capturing the authenticity of the trip and moment, rather than get the perfect shot to be able to share on Instagram for the instant gratification. Likes or comments on a photo that we thought was stellar wasn't going to make our trip better at all. Our road trip to Oregon was full of experiences which let us learn and will continue to help us grow.

I loved having a travel partner who seemed to be as passionate of photography as I am. From rallying one night to make some pictures of the galaxy on the beach, to turning around from walking to the car and staying on the beach for another hour to enjoy the sea breeze and play with our cameras, Nicole was such a great friend who has an artistic eye that enjoyed everything we came in contact with.

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

Before we stopped in Portland where we would spend the night, we arrived at the Oneonta Gorge and walked up to Multnomah Falls. We wanted to hike up the canyon at Oneonta to the waterfall, where you have to slosh through chest deep water, but since it was rainy and cold, we decided to push that to the end of the trip... and we're so glad we did.

Our plan was to watch hot air balloons at the Tigard Festival, but that morning was too windy (or something) for them to launch. So this was the most we got to see of the hot air balloons, but hey, since we were up (5:45am they were supposed to launch), we made our way to the coast early and got some extra time out there.

The first views of the coast and we literally could not stop smiling.

Still smiling at Rockaway Beach!

As we were driving along the coast, there were so many places to turn out or there would be roads to take you to trailheads. After setting up our tent at our campsite, we decided to head back to Cape Kiwanda because we couldn't get enough of it. On the way, we pulled into one of the trailheads and hiked about 20 minutes to get a view (pictured above). Looking out to the ocean was humbling. It's massive size, roaring waves, and in-comprehensive strength remind you of how small you actually are.

I photographed Nicole's senior portraits in the afternoon and grabbed dinner. We then sought out for more portraits at golden hour and sunset. (Nicole's portraits will be in the next blog post.)

While on the road, it's so important to find times like these to lay down, stretch out, and eat cake to remind yourself that you are exactly where you need to be and exactly who you need to be with. Shoutout to Nicole for always being on the same page throughout the trip!

PRO TIP: When you forget a cup for watercoloring, drink a juice box and then open it up. Just add salt water ;)

We had packed up our stuff and were heading back to the car. Nicole and I turned around and looked at each other and we both knew we wanted to stay longer for sunset. We did just that. Not having our days totally outlined gave us a ton of free time which let us do exactly what we felt we needed to do. One thing which was nice was knowing where we would be sleeping at night, and having a tent set up let us have a sense of home that a Prius could not provide for us. ;)

It was close to midnight and Nicole and I were both fading in the tent, but we decided since we were on the coast and it was our last night, we wanted to go back out on the beach to try for some long exposures of the stars. Once again, when we were out on the beach, we got stoked at the crazy amount of stars lighting up the sky.

After we shot the photo below, our guts told us it was time to go. The experience of being out on the coast at night reminded us that we were out there alone, pretty far from home. We slept in the car that night, but sometimes you just gotta do what you feel is right. We had a lucky shooting star watching over us that night and we are so excited and proud to have gotten this shot.

June 16, 2016

Well it seems to me like I did it. I graduated High School! I remember being a Freshman, cheesy I know, but that was four years ago. That was ONLY four years ago! Four years can seem like eternity while you sit in your 9th Grade Advisory class having the Seniors come in and give you advice for the next four years. Four years can also seem like it flew by, the position I am in right now... graduated.

Let's talk about the past TWELVE years! When I started 1st grade, I was six, now graduated high school, age eighteen. Yes, probably the majority of these things I've learned and really grown from apply to my most recent years, but collectively, I think they represent me as the grown individual I am today.

12 things I've learned and live by

1. Appreciate life as it happens. Moments will soon pass and you will have wished you cherished them more. The only time we truly have is the present, so BE present and enjoy every little thing that happens today.

2. Be Kind. Don't you love getting compliments? Who doesn't! People appreciate compliments just as much as you do, and they appreciate it when others are kind. When you're kind and compliment someone, you feel good and benefit too. So win, win! Everybody benefits and feels good about themselves. The Ripple Effect.

3. Positive mind, positive vibes, positive life. I've noticed that if I keep my mind positive, I produce positive vibes, and that makes certain my life is positive. What you think, you become. Simple as that.

4. Your vibe attracts your tribe. So if we're talking about these vibes we produce (hopefully positive ones) then that means the right, positive people are going to find you and enter into your life.

5. Comparison is the thief of joy. We are constantly comparing ourselves, unconsciously. Not are we just comparing ourselves over looks, clothing, material goods, and where others are according to social media, but it is especially easy as an artist to see an amazing wedding or editorial shoot someone did and to go look at your work and think it is "not enough." We all just have to keep creating and being inspired.

6. Change is the only constant. Life is a series of changes, and how we react to these changes is what determines our attitude and energy. One of the biggest changes, for myself and the Class of 2016, is happening right now. We have to adapt and let new experiences through our arms. The time is now, and if we ever let the "fear of change" in the way, we're going to miss the little magical moments in-between.

7. Let go and live. Life is happening now, if you blink for too long, you're going to miss it. Enjoy every minute you spend with people you care about, push yourself by taking risks, and don't take yourself, or others too seriously. We're all just trying to function.

8. Exist to be happy and to spread it. Why do some people walk around, with a heavy head sitting on their shoulders? Things happen, and life goes on. If we spread true happiness that is not forced or fake, we could make this world a much better place.

9. No one is you, and that is your power. No one in this world looks or thinks like you, and this is what makes everyone so special. We all find certain things that we love in others, so lets look in the mirror and find things we love about ourselves. At the end of the day, you are the only one looking out for yourself, and you have to be strong enough to keep pushing forward. Whether that be pushing yourself to make more photos, finish that long run, meet your goal, or receive that grade you worked so hard for.

10. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. What do you want to be remembered for? Smiling at every person on the street? Being truly happy in the work and relationships you create? The world is literally your oyster, so go find that pearl, that thing you love, that creative spark, bring it home, and polish it to make it the most beautiful gem you can.

11. We can't force things that aren't meant to be. They just won't work! This leads me to the last, but not least...

12. What's meant to be, will be. Everything always works out. It always does.In 12 years, where will I be?

2028, I will be 30 years old. I honestly can't believe that the age of 30 is less than 15 years away.

Time starts to fly as you get older and it's a crazy phenomenon! When you're young, it seems like time takes forever to pass, probably because you're always thinking of being older and wishing you were as old as everybody else. As we grow up, time starts to go by faster because we are a little happier with where we are in life, and once we grow up to be adults and are finally the age we wanted to be when we were kids, all we do is wish that we were kids again. So why not be a kid for life?! We will always be someone's child, so let's keep coloring outside the lines, running through sprinklers, jumping into the leaves, making snowmen in the fresh snow fall, and eating lunch in the park. Because without these "childish" activities, life would be mundane and we would loose inspiration. Cultivate that momentum and keep it with you to be inspired and to inspire others.

June 15, 2016

I have wanted to photograph Nicolò before he goes home to Italy at the end of the month. We found a great spot in Hailey to make some portraits of him. I don't photograph many boys, but when I do, I have so much fun! It's a challenge but a change of subject that I need. Nicolò owned it and was really easy to work with. I think these photos reflect his easy-going, laid-back attitude!